About these ads

Dean Lombardi Says LA Kings Have “Lucked Out” With 2012 First Round Draft Pick Tanner Pearson

April 15, 2013 by 5 Comments

Left/right wing prospect Tanner Pearson was the Los Angeles Kings’ first
round selection (30th overall) in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
(click to view larger image)
Photo: Steve Babineau/Manchester Monarchs

LOS ANGELES — This past summer, the Los Angeles Kings had the misfortune of selecting last in the first round of the 2012 National Hockey League Draft.

Of course, selecting last in the first round is the “privilege” that every Stanley Cup Champion earns for upcoming draft, and as you probably surmised, the Kings were not complaining after they won the first Stanley Cup Championship in the 45-year history of the franchise on June 11, 2012.

Most pundits would tell you that, more often than not, the draft is a huge crap shoot after the first handful of picks, and no one expected the Kings to get an impact player with the 30th overall selection.

Read more of this post

About these ads

Filed under Audio/Video, Exclusives, News, Prospects Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , ,

LA Kings Forward Prospect Linden Vey Is On The Right Side of the Puck In Second Season With Manchester Monarchs

April 13, 2013 by 5 Comments

Forward prospect Linden Vey, shown here during the Los Angeles Kings 2011 Development Camp at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California, July 11-12, 2011.
Photo: Gann Matsuda/FrozenRoyalty.net

LOS ANGELES — Scoring 28 goals with the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League this season, right wing prospect Tyler Toffoli was so good in the AHL, that he was named to the AHL’s All-Rookie Team on April 10, and as the Outstanding Rookie on April 12.

Even more impressive is that Toffoli was so good that he received those accolades even though he has been with the National Hockey League’s Los Angeles Kings since March 10.

With the Monarchs, Toffoli played on a line with fellow Kings prospects, forwards Linden Vey and Tanner Pearson, and they scorched the rest of the AHL.

“It was just something where I think we’re all smart players, skilled players, and [each of us] brings something different to the line,” said Vey, who was selected by the Kings in the fourth round (96th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. “We kind of complement each other, and for the time Toffoli was here, we just went on a run.”

Read more of this post

Filed under Audio/Video, Exclusives, News, Prospects Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

LA Kings Goalie Prospect Martin Jones Is Making Progress In Spite Of Tough Season With Manchester

April 10, 2013 by 3 Comments

LA Kings goaltender prospect Martin Jones has been be under the
spotlight as the clear-cut number one goalie for the AHL’s
Manchester Monarchs this season.
(click to view larger image)
Photo: Steve Babineau/Manchester Monarchs

LOS ANGELES — Heading into the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and again this past summer, Los Angeles Kings backup goaltender Jonathan Bernier expressed his desire to become a number one goaltender in the National Hockey League, as all netminders aspire to be in their professional careers.

Bernier even asked to be traded before the playoffs began. However, at the time, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi was not in a position to grant his request because he had no goaltenders in the system ready for backup duty at the NHL level.

That fact was all too apparent once the NHL lockout ended, and the questions about Bernier being traded started up again. In fact, just prior to the start of the abbreviated 2013 season, Lombardi indicated that he would not be able to trade Bernier yet.

“I don’t think that’s feasible at all right now, for the team,” said Lombardi. “He’s an important part of this team. Let’s face it. Our guys in the minors aren’t ready for that role, and that’s an important role.”

Read more of this post

Filed under Audio/Video, Exclusives, News, Prospects Tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

← Older posts

Newer posts →

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 72 other followers